ATL Standard

Georgia Tech women's associate head basketball coach Tasha Butts has been diagnosed with stage-4 breast cancer.

"In November, I was diagnosed with an advanced stage of breast cancer," Butts said on the team website. While I am still processing this life-changing diagnosis and learning how to deal with it day-to-day, I have full confidence in my team of doctors with the treatment plan they have put forth and that I have already begun."

Butts praised Georgia Tech leaders for their support. "The tremendous amount of support I have received from my family, close friends, and Georgia Tech family has made these past few weeks a little more bearable and easier," Butts said.

Georgia Tech coach Nell Fortner credits Butts with being a major part of the program. Fortner gave an official statement in which she said, "We were all shocked with Tasha's diagnosis, but the positive is she is in a fantastic city with doctors extremely qualified to treat her. Tasha has been instrumental in our success over these past two and a half seasons. She is surrounded by a Georgia Tech community that will support her and a team that will love her through this. Tasha is a strong woman who has every intention of beating this diagnosis, and we will be with her every step of the way."

The Georgia Tech athletic department points to Butts as being an inspiration for the entire program. In the official statement, Butts said, "This has not been an easy discovery. At age 39, I never thought I'd be sitting here dealing with this disease. But I have full confidence in my doctors, my faith, who I am and who I was taught to be, which is a fighter. I want to, and hope to be, an example and an inspiration for others who may be experiencing the same thing."